titivate

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

A modification of the earlier spelling tidivate, perhaps based on tidy + -vate, on the pattern of words such as cultivate and renovate.

They would never dream of using such dubious words, but it was rather titivating to hear someone else use them—and a girl, at that. — Rainbow Valley, L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
These reflections caused her to sit down in the Hotel Writing Room, whilst dinner was being got ready, and Mrs. Bazzard was titivating, and dash off a hasty letter to "dearest mother" informing her of the brighter outlook. — The Man Who Did the Right Thing: A Romance, Harry Johnston
One beautiful Sunday morning the yellow omnibus was waiting for some of us as we dawdled about in the school-room, titivating; the masters nowhere, as usual on a Sunday morning; and some of the boys began to sing in chorus a not very edifying chanson, which they did not "Bowdlerize," about a holy Capuchin friar; it began (if I remember rightly): "C'etait un Capucin, oui bien, un pere Capucin, Qui confessait trois filles-- Itou, itou, itou, la la la! — The Martian: A Novel, George Du Maurier

spruce up, spruce, tittivate, smarten up, slick up, spiff up

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